Like Iraq before it, Syria is becoming a magnet for foreign jihadists. The Washington Institute's Aaron Zelin has compiled a rough sketch of what the influx looks like and where it's coming from. Zelin estimates that between 2,000 and 5,500 foreign fighters have entered Syria of which between 135-590 came from Europe. Here's Zelin's European break-down:

What's interesting about the SAA divisions in Darayya is how good they've become at fighting in this environment. The whole area has been turned into a SAA playgound. It's basically a free-fire zone buffering Damascus and Der'ah, a disputed providence on Jordan's boarder which the FSA can maintain supplies from their western and Arab sponsors outside the country.

The beauty of this is that without Darayya, there's zero chance the FSA will get into Damascus as they lack the capability to circumnavigate the area to the south and still maintain supply. Since Darayya is uninhabited, the SAA can bring all the heavy firepower to bear they need. Literally thousands of FSA have lost their lives fighting for one neighborhood. Which as of last week, was declared secure as the SAA have pushed further west towards the Jordanian boarder. However, it's impossible to say how long that security will last in this kind of warfare.

About their tanks, according to their crewmen they have survived multiple RPG hits thanks to the ERA, but they complain that snipers keep shooting out their HMGs and they cannot fire them without opening their hatches and exposing themselves to small arms fire. The equipment boxes around their turrets keep getting shot full of holes. The warfare the SAA is experiencing is making Baghdad look like a cake walk.

UAZ announced a less expensive BMPT upgrade for the T-72, there's no doubt in my mind its design requirements have been drafted based on this war.

UAZ announced a less expensive BMPT upgrade for the T-72, there's no doubt in my mind its design requirements have been drafted based on this war.

I mean not the xperience of 2013 (till april) but the experience of 2012 and 2011 wars must have been taken.BMPT upgrade is making a 5 member crew to 3 member crew..No but it is quite expensive. I dont know.

Sujoy wrote:These Are the European Countries Sending Fighters into Syria

Like Iraq before it, Syria is becoming a magnet for foreign jihadists. The Washington Institute's Aaron Zelin has compiled a rough sketch of what the influx looks like and where it's coming from. Zelin estimates that between 2,000 and 5,500 foreign fighters have entered Syria of which between 135-590 came from Europe. Here's Zelin's European break-down:

These figures are far from the realities, the number of gangs terrorists that were in Syria for two years exceeds 200.000 to 300.000 -as Thierry Meyssan, voltairenet.org, it is huge for a small country like Syria-.This huge stream is organized by CIA, and certains western secrets services with the help of certain arab countries and obviously again, and again Turkey.

In anyway never Russia will leave Syria. I heard certain rumors lending to Mr Lavrov that he would be ready to deploy at least 500 russian aircrafts in Syria, if nessecary-sources needed-. Moreover if If Assad falls :

1- the gaz price collapse2- triggering huge economic crisis in Russia3- this country will back to same situation as it prevailed during the early 90's.4- USA will restart its program to cut the country as they successfully removed russian' baltic regions, CIA will encourage to remove Chechnenya, Ingouchia, Yakoutia, and many rich russian's provinces.5- Kazakhastan, Uzbekistan, Tadjiskistan, most of russian neighbours will be back to the middle age, collapsing into an infinite civil war, between islamists and christian orthodox russians. It could be a huge bloodbath. Slaughter of christians.6- China will have its province like Tibet, Xingiang, etc...asking their independance, and many troubles will follow.7- The Russia's prestige in the world.8- Russians clients in the world.and for many other settings, never Russia will abandon Syria, never. It is now or never, and in this line, Russia, China are completly agree, synchronizing.As we said previously -about several subject-, without Russia's help, USA in unable to win any conflict.As Germany is more than reluctant to follow USA, who will follow USA ?UK, maybe France-in spite of a strong opposition-, Australia, and some poor central european countries. In any way it is not enough a warranty to win a conflict.

1- the gaz price collapse2- triggering huge economic crisis in Russia3- this country will back to same situation as it prevailed during the early 90's.4- USA will restart its program to cut the country as they successfully removed russian' baltic regions, CIA will encourage to remove Chechnenya, Ingouchia, Yakoutia, and many rich russian's provinces.5- Kazakhastan, Uzbekistan, Tadjiskistan, most of russian neighbours will be back to the middle age, collapsing into an infinite civil war, between islamists and christian orthodox russians. It could be a huge bloodbath. Slaughter of christians.6- China will have its province like Tibet, Xingiang, etc...asking their independance, and many troubles will follow.7- The Russia's prestige in the world.8- Russians clients in the world.and for many other settings, never Russia will abandon Syria, never. It is now or never, and in this line, Russia, China are completly agree, synchronizing.As we said previously -about several subject-, without Russia's help, USA in unable to win any conflict.As Germany is more than reluctant to follow USA, who will follow USA ?UK, maybe France-in spite of a strong opposition-, Australia, and some poor central european countries. In any way it is not enough a warranty to win a conflict.

I think the scenario is a bit far fetched but the total sunni population of 20 million in Syria .One can easily conclude that there are far far many terrorist and extremists in Syria than that given in analysis or Al-zazeera channels.

That makes Iraq and AFghanistan look likepuppies or tedddy bears.

I think the figure given by you would be nearly correct.

But conditions in Syria are deteriorating rapidly.I dont know what the outcome would be.

More footage of the Mad Max T-72's. After this war is over they should put one of these T-72's, rebar and all, in a monument at the center of Darayya. You also get some footage of SAA resupplying, recovering an injured soldier, and interviews with the locals.

@ 7:25 - SAA infantry move up, using the dust kicked up from the tank shot as concealment.

@ 8:00 - T-72 uses a smokescreen to cover the infantry.

@ 8:47 - FSA uses an explosive, can tell if it's a hand grenade RPG or some kind of IED, but he misses both tanks. I wasn't sure why until...

... 20 seconds later @ 9:07. The poor guy gets blown out of his hiding place by the T-72 on the left. He was concealed in the rubble pile right next to the damn tanks. He must have been absolutely terrified, unable to aim his weapon.

@ 11:05 - SAA soldiers advance into the FSA line. Notice the very large tan cloth sheet, it is a anti-sniper curtain set up by the FSA.

Unfortunetly not, I think if we set aside the stupid US/Israel propaganda about a so-called delivery missiles to Hizbollah, the real reason is to reach, and destroy the new russian missiles ' delivery. And about this surprise attack, there are rumors that at least 300 syrian soldiers were killed in that barbaric, terrorist attack.But I think the syrian retalation will come, but at the best moment.In fact this is a more likely US raids -that pushed the reluctancly israeli's administration-, in order to test Russia, step by step, but this time Russia, will not back.

This is big.Really Big.They can buy off all the rebel held lands with thiscentral bank scale cash flow.

Currency flow to Assad Gov

New kinds of mid-east central bank opening up the future of syria..

Iran has opened two lines of credit totaling $4 billion to help Syria counter the economic impact of a civil war and international sanctions, Syria's government daily Tishreen reported, citing the country’s Central Bank.